Vehicle door latch



Dec. 4, 1956 B. J. CRAIG 2,772,908

VEHICLE DOOR LATCH IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 4, 1956 B. J. CRAIG VEHICLE DOOR LATCH Original Filed Dec. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United Staes Patent O `VEHICLE DOOR LATCH Burnie J. Craig, Pasadena, Calif.

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-7280) This invention relates to a vehicle door latch.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle door latch by means ofrwhich one or more of the doors of a motor vehicle may be held securely in locked position.v j

A more speci-ticA object of the invention is to provid a novel push button operated door lock.

YOther objects and advantages of the invention will be Aapparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, looking towards the a'rro'w 1 in Fig. 4, partly in section, showing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a -view similar to vFig. 1, looking towards the yarrow 2 in Fig. 4, and showing the opposite sides ofthe `door latch;

IFig. 3 is a section showing the locking arm and taken on line 3-3, iFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizon-tal sectional view showing the door lock and associated door .and pillar;

Fig. 6 is a section in the direction of the .arrow in Fig. 5, showing the end of the lock member;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the handle assembly;

Fig. 8 yis ta fragmentary, i-sometric view showing lock details;

Fig 9 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing a modication, and

Fig. `10 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the modication.

'This application is Ia division of application Serial No.

.201,283, tiled December 18, 1950 now Patent No. 2,705,-

884, granted April 12, 1955. `In said application Serial No. 201,283 the claims introduced were broadly drawn to both `species of .the invention and specifically to the species of Figs. 1 to.8-. In the present application all claims are specific to Figs. 9 land 10.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the invention is shown as embodied in a vehicle door latch which is indicated generally `at 10. As shown the latch includes a body 11, adapted to be secured to a vehicle door '12. The body 11 includes a tlange 1'3.

The body "1t'1 supports a rotatable shaft 1'4 which, on the outer face of the end member, has a bolt 15 fixed thereon and at the inner face vhas a ratchet member 16 xed thereon. Y

The rotary bolt extends through an aperture in the door 12 and coacts with a'strike member 17 which has teeth 18'thereon and is secured to the door pillar 19 by fastening members 20. The rotary bolt includes teeth 21 which engage the teeth 18.

The ratchet 16 is adapted to be engaged by an ear 22 on a dog 23 'which is shown as pivoted at 24 tothe body 11. The dog is engaged by a spring 25 mounted on -a fasteningl memberf26. Thedog is thus normally urged to engaged position.

l The dog 23 is shown as adapted to be rocked by an arm 28" which engages 1an ear 28 on the dog 23. The arm 28 vis Ifixed on a shaft 29 which latter is adapted to 2,772,908 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 ice be rocked by a crank v30 which is adapted to be actuated 'by a remote control member on the inside of a door. The remote control member may be similar to the remote control member shown in Craig Patent 2,450,372, granted September 28, 1948.

The dog 23 also includes an upwardly extending raised arm 31 which has a tongue 32 extending therefrom. The tongue is normally disposed in a slot 33 in an actuating member 34, which latter is shown as mounted on ka release member |35 by means of a pivot pin 35.

' The release member 35 is mounted on a handle assembly '36 which includes a body 37 having a reduced porti-on y37a which passes through a ,hole in the door and is held in place by a slip plate 37b. The body. in-

cludes a handle 37c and has a chamber 38 in which tumblers 39 are arranged. The construction includes a closure 40 which is non-'rotatable and which supports a non-rotatable sleeve 411 The ,tumblers 39 are rotated in sequence in the usual manner by a dial member 4t2 which has a key 43 fitting ina keyway 44 in one of the -tumblers 39. `Aspring 45 normally urgesthe dial 42.

outwardly. V l

Within the sleeve 411 a lock barrel 46 slides. The lock barrel 4 6 includes a push button portion 47 which projeot's for 'fingertip operation. A spring 48 engages a ilange 52 on the lock barrel to normally urge the push but-ton outwardly. The lock barrel includes a ball clutch 49.

1954 and 4a lfurtherl `description of the clutching arranget ment is deemed unnecessary.

The4 lock barrel supports a core 50 which is -rotatable in the barrel when a proper key 51 is inserted and rotated.

The 'ilange 52 provides an annular recess 53 in which av U-shaped end 54 on the release arm 55 is arranged. The arm 55 extends perpendicular to the U-shaped` end 5-4 and extend-s -through a slot 56 in the closure 40.

The slot 56 isonly .slightly larger in cross section than thecross section of the release arm 55 so that the arm 55 Vis limited to move linearly parallel to ,the axisof the lock barrel and when the push button is pushed inwardly the arm 55 will move in and -will move outwardly when the spring 48 returns thepush button.

The release arm 55 is rigidly` connected to the release mem-ber 35 by -tongues 57 which .are integral with the release member "35 and 'which pass through holes 56 in the arm 55. Thus it will be seen that the release member `35 will move in and out with the push button but that this member will not rotate with the lock barrel 46 n or with the dial member 42.

A slot 57 inthe release member 35 receives a guide pin 58 on the base 11 to guide the free end of the release member.

The construction is `such that when the push button 47 is pushed inwardly the release member 35 Iwill be pushed inwardly yand will carry forward the pivot -35' on the actuating member and will move `the actuating member to the right in Fig. 1. This will cause the wall portion 60 of the slot '3'3 to engage the tongue 32 on the dog 'arm 31. This will rock the dog to free the ratchet 16 and allow the bolt 15 to rotate so that the door may be opened. p

The actuating member 34 may be moved from the unlocked position shown in full lines in Fig. l to the lockedV over spring 67 which holds the locking arm 66 against a Vber 34 has a tongue 7a2 atA its free end.` The tongue ,72

tits in a slot 73 in a U-shaped portion 74 on the locking member. Y

When the nger member 7l is pushed downwardly `the actuating member tongue 72 will move the actuatmg member 34 from unlocked t-o locked position and when the finger member 71 is raised the actuating member will be raised from locked to unlocked position.

Also, the actuating member 34 may be shifted from locked to unlocked position and vice versa by means of an arm 7S which is mounted on the core 50 of the lock barrel. The arm 75 operates in a slot 75 in the actuating member `34. As shown in Fig. 7, the arm is mounted as a crank member on a head 76 carried on the rod 77 which is mounted on and rotates with the lock core 50. The rod 77 passes through a hole 78 in a tongue 79 bent from the release member 35.

The construction is such that when the proper key 51 is inserted it will rock the core 50, thus rocking the pin 75 and moving the actuating member 34 upwardly or downwardly depending on which direction the key is turned.

Also, the rod 77 may be rotated by codifying the tumblers 39 and pushing in on the dial 42 to Vfree the ball clutch 49. This will permit the push .button 47 to turn independently of, and without use of, the key 51.

Thus it will be seen that an operator may either lock or unlock the vehicle from without the vehicle by operating the finger member 71 or mayV lock or unlock the door from without the vehicle by means of the key 51 or the dial member 42.

To prevent the operator from locking himself out of the vehicle when the door is closed while the actuating member 34 is in locked position, the actuating member is proA vided with a cam 80 which, when the actuating member is locked, is disposed (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) adjacent to a portion 81 on the dog 23. The arrangement of the parts is such that when the actuating member 34 is in this locked position and the door is closed the ratchet 16 will be rotated, thus lifting the dog in Fig. 1 and causing the portion 81 to move upwardly andforwardly to thus lift the actuating member 34 to unlockedposition.

If, however, the operator desires to lock the vehicle he may push down on the finger member 71, thus placing the actuating member in locked positionand then as the door is closed, he will push inwardly on the push button 47. In doing this he will move the cam portion 80 forwardly in Fig. 1 so that when the part 81 is raised due to rocking of the dog 23 there will be no engagement of the part 80 with the part 81 and thus the cam 80 will be undisturbed and the actuating member will remain in locked position.

The strike 17 coacts with a wedge member 85 which preferably consists of a stamping and is fully described in applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 201,281 filed December 18, 1950, now Patent No. 2,705,882, granted April 12, 1955.. The bottom of the wedge member 85 engages a dovetail wedge 86 which has a plane lower face 87 slidably engaging a similar face 88 on the strike. A spring 89 normally urges the wedge member to the right in Fig. 2 towards the shoulder 89' on the strike. The wedge member is more fully described in the copending application mentioned in this paragraph.

In order to provide for coincidental locking of the several doors of a vehicle the locking arm 66 is provided with a shaft member 90 which may be secured thereon as by welding at 91. The shaft member projects through a slot 92 in-the base `11 and in the end of the door and at its outer end supports a roller 93. Theyconstruction is 4 Y such that whenthe locking member 66 is moved up or down the roller 93 will be moved up or down.

To provide coincidental locking of doors on the same side of the vehicle and on opposite sides of the vehicle, the pillars 19 are provided with a coincidental locking controlmember which has upper and lower wings 101 and 102 at each end. The control member includes a body 104 from which a pair of tongues 105 extend through a slot 106 in the pillar and are accessible from within the vehicle for movement up and down to effect the locking and unlocking action.

The body 104 includes tongues 108 from which the wings 101 and 1102, previously mentioned, are bent. The control member 100 is mounted on a shaft 110 which is supported in brackets 111 removably secured to the inside of the pillar as by suitable screws 112.

The wings with the integral connecting body 104 serve to coincidentally lock adjacent doors. Doors on opposite sides of the vehicle may be coincidentally lockedras by a Bowden wire 113 which is suitably secured to the control members 100. To cause simultaneous action one end of the Bowden Wire is coupled to the top portion of the control member 100 at the upper left hand portion of Fig. 5. The other end of the Bowden wire is connected to the bottom portion of the other control member. Thus control' members on opposite sides of the vehicle both simultaneously move in the same direction.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the inside remote control rod 29 is omitted. The dog ear 28 is extended as at 28 and is engaged by an arm 120, which is pivoted at 121 to the flange 13. The arm v112.0 is rocked by an integral arm 122 which is connected by a rod 123 to an inside remote control handle (not shown). When the rod 123 is pulled to the right in Fig. 9 the arm 120 will rock the ear 28 on Vthe dog to bolt releasing position.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a door lock, a base having a iiange arranged at right angles thereto, a bolt pivoted on the base to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the Vbase, a ratchet coaxial with the bolt pivot, bolt holding and releasing means engaging the ratchet for holding the bolt in engagement with a strike, a movably mounted release member, an actuating member, pivotal means supporting the actuating member on the release member, the actuating member being movable in a path to and from a locked positio-n, the actuating member also being movable with the release member in a bolt releasing path, said holding and releasing means having an arm which has a tongue extending therefrom, said actuating member having a shoulder thereon, said tongue being normally disposed out of the path of the shoulder on the actuating member when the actuating member is in its locked position, said tongue being disposed in the path ofsaid actuating member shoulder when the actuating member is in unlocked position for movement by the release member to bolt releasing position, means for moving the release member to bolt releasing position, a locking arm, means pivotally supporting the locking arm on the ilange, means to hold the locking arm in either locking or in unlocking position, means including a shiftable member which has an upper finger engaging portion accessible from Within the vehicle for moving the locking arm from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, the actuating member having a tongue at its free end, said tongue fitting in a slot on the locking arm for moving the locking arm to and from locked position, said actuating member being effective to free the bolt holding and releasing` means whenV it is moved while the locking arm is in unlocked position and said actuating member being ineffective to release the bolt holding and releasing means when itis moved while the locking arm is in unlocked position, said hol-ding and releasing means including an ear directed towards said ange, an arm pivoted on said ange, the axis of said last mentioned arm being ,perpendicular to the ange, 'said arm including a portion engaging said ear, remote control means within the vehicle for rocking the last mentioned arm to move the holding and releasing means to bolt releasing position, said actuating member including a shoulder facing towards the ratchet and engageable with a portion of the holding and releasing means which faces away from the ratchet when the actuating member is in non-bolt releasing position and operable when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to restore the actuating member to unlocked position, said shoulder being disposed so that it is out of the path of the holding and releasing means portion which faces away from the ratchet and is inoperable, when the actuating member is in locked position and is held in bolt releasing position, when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to move the actuating member to unlocked position.

2.V In a door lock, a base having a ange arranged at right angles thereto, a bolt pivoted on the base to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the base, a ratchet coaxial with the bolt pivot, bolt holding and releasing means engaging the ratchet for holding the bolt in engagement with a strike, a movably mounted release member, an actuating member, pivotal means supporting the actuating member on the release member, the actuating member being movable in a path to and from a locked position, the actuating member also being movable with the release member in a bolt releasing path, said actuating member having a shoulder thereon, said holding and releasing means having an upwardly directed arm which has a terminal tongue extending therefrom, said tongue being normally disposed out of the path of the shoulder on the actuating member when the actuating member is in its locked position, said tongue being disposed adjacent to and in the path of said actuating member shoulder when the actuating member is in unlocked position for movement by the release member to bolt releasing position, means for moving the release member to bolt releasing position, a piv-ot pin on said flange, a locking arm pivotally supported by the pivot pin, means to limit movement of the locking arm in each direction, means to hold the locking arm in either locking or in unlocking position, means including a shiftable member which has an upper finger engaging portion accessible from within the vehicle for moving the locking arm from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, the actuating member having a tongue at its free end, said tongue fitting in a slot on the locking arm for moving the locking arm to and from locked position, said actuating member being eifective to free the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking arm is in unlocked position and said actuating member being ineffective to release the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking arm is in unlocked position, said holding and releasing means including an ear directed towards said ilange, an arm pivoted on said ange, the axis of said last mentioned arm being perpendicular to the flange, said arm including a portion engaging said ear, remote control means within the vehicle for rocking the last mentioned arm to move the holding and releasing means to bolt releasing position, said actuating member including a shoulder facing towards the ratchet and engageable with a portion of the holding and releasing means which faces away from the ratchet when the actuating member is in nonbolt releasing position and operable when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to restore the actuating member to unlocked position, said shoulder being disposed so that it is lout of the path of the holding and releasing means portion which faces away from the ratchet and is inoperable, when the actuating member is in locked position and is held in bolt releasing position, when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to move the actuating member to unlocked position.

3. In a door lock, a base having a flange arranged at right angles thereto, a bolt pivoted on the base to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the base, a ratchet coaxial with the bolt pivot, bolt holding and releasing means engaging the ratchet for holding the bolt in engagement with a strike, a movably mounted release member, an actuating member, pivotal means supporting the actuating member on the release member, the actuating member being movable in a path to and from a locked position, the actuating member also being movable with the release member in a bolt releasing path, said holding and releasing means having an upwardly raised arm which has a terminal tongue extending inwardly therefrom, said actuating member having a shoulder thereon, said tongue being normally disposed out of the path of the shoulder on the actuating member when the actuating member is in its locked position, said tongue being disposed adjacent to and in the path of said actuating member shoulder when the actuating member is in unlocked position for movement by the release member to bolt releasing position, means for moving the release member to bolt releasing position, a pivot pin on said flange, a locking arm pivotally supported by the pivot pin, said locking arm including a portion engageable with upper and lower stop portions on the ange to limit movement of the locking arm in each direction, a snap-over spring engaging the locking arm and the flange to hold the locking arm in either locking or in unlocking position, means including a shiftable member which has an upper iinger engaging portion accessible from within the vehicle for moving the locking arm from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, the actuating member having a tongue at its free end, said tongue fitting in a slot on the locking arm for moving the locking arm to and from locked position, said actuating member being eifective to free the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking arm is in unlocked position and said actuating member being ineffective to release the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking arm is in locked position, said holding and releasing means including an ear directed towards said ange, an arm pivoted on said flange, the axis of said last mentioned arm being perpendicular to the ange, said arm including a portion engaging said ear, remote control means within the vehicle for rocking the last mentioned arm to move the holding and releasing means to bolt releasing position, said actuating member including a shoulder facing towards the ratchet and engageable with a portion of the holding and releasing means which faces away from the ratchet when the actuating member is in non-bolt releasing position and operable when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to restore the actuating member to unlocked position, said shoulder being disposed so that it is out of the path of the holding and releasing means portion which faces away from the ratchet and is inoperable, when the actuating member is in locked position and is held in bolt releasing position, when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to move the actuating member to unlocked position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,629,618 Roethel Feb. 24, 1953 

